Michael's New Glasses + All Sewed Out

Michael has new eyeglass frames! 

 They're black and sort of hip/nerdy.  I really like them.  For some reason they photograph larger than they look in person (which was true of all those sunglasses I modeled last year too.)



I was hoping to start a new sewing project today but you know something?  I'm too tired.  I've sewn a lot this month and it's only half over.  I still have my FIT homework to do too.

I had wanted to start a knock-off of this rain jacket, in a version that would be a few inches longer (and not neon).



My fabric is this blue coated cotton fabric from Mood.



I even did a rub off of the pattern pieces, which wasn't easy since it's a waterproof jacket and pins would pierce the coating.



In the end, I decided I don't have the energy to begin a project like this; to do this coat well would take a lot of time and I'm feeling a bit sewed-out.  Plus I've had a mild cold since Tuesday.

I hemmed my Thai fisherman pants this morning and I'll share a tip I used.  Normally I stand at my ironing board, press up 1/4" and then fold up from there.  (In this case, I was folding up 1".)  Rather than stand there with my hot iron, folding up each little section and measuring to make sure it's exactly an inch wide, I did it like this:

First, I fold up 1/4" and press.  I do this by eye.

Then, from the new edge, I measure 2" in and draw a chalk line on both sides of the pants leg (i.e., around the entire inside of the pants leg, which is lying flat).



Next, I fold the edge to meet the line, making a 1" fold.



Finally, I stitch from either the inside or outside.  And press.



I know this seems basic, but for a hem like mine, this method works really well.  It's another technique I picked up from my menswear sewing class (we used in cuff-making).

Readers, that's all for today.

Maybe later this week I will revisit my cocktail dress project, Butterick 9690.  Reader Mitchell was kind enough to send me a pic of the very same dress on Barbie!



(You can read more about the Barbie version here.)

Any favorite hemming techniques you wish to share?

Have a great day, everybody!